Molecular & Structural Biology

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Scientists Identify Crucial Mechanism for Maintaining Neuronal Identity in the Brain

A team of researchers from the Institute for Neurosciences, a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, in collaboration with researchers from Columbia University (New York, USA), has identified a mechanism that regulates the production of two different proteins from the same gene.

24 Mar 2025

Dendritic Spine Clusters Physically Link Memories Formed Close in Time

According to a recent study, the reason why memories from the same day seem connected while events from weeks apart feel separate is as follows: Human brains use dendrites, which are spiny extensions of neurons, rather than the cell bodies to physically connect memories that happen in close succession.

24 Mar 2025

Scientists Unlock the Mechanism Behind piRNA's Defense Against Jumping Genes

Adverse genetic mutations can cause harm and are due to various circumstances. "Jumping genes" are one cause of mutations, but cells try and combat them with a specialized RNA called piRNA.

22 Mar 2025

First-Ever Molecular Movie Shows DNA Unzipping Mechanism in Action

Scientists at the University of Leicester have captured the first detailed "molecular movie" showing DNA being unzipped at the atomic level – revealing how cells begin the crucial process of copying their genetic material.

22 Mar 2025

Lobate Shape of Lymphatic Cells Provides Stability Against Fluid Shifts

The cells that make up the walls of the finest of all lymphatic vessels have a lobate, oak leaf-like shape that makes them particularly resilient to changes in fluid volume.

20 Mar 2025

Bioengineering a Luminous Biosensor for Aberrant DNA Detection

Cells contain a DNA sensor called cGAS, which alerts the immune system to viral and bacterial infections, cell death, and cancer-related transformations.

20 Mar 2025

Visualizing the Fundamental Process of DNA Strand Separation

The exact moment DNA starts to unravel has been seen by scientists for the first time, exposing a chemical process that is essential for DNA to be the molecule that codes for all life.

20 Mar 2025

New Insights into RNA Editing Mechanisms for Autoimmune and Cancer Therapies

A research team led by Yang Gao from Rice University has made significant strides in understanding the molecular mechanisms of ADAR1, a protein that modulates ribonucleic acid (RNA) induced immune responses.

18 Mar 2025

Breakthrough Microscopy Sheds Light on the Dynamics of Biomolecular Condensates

Biomolecular condensates are shifting blobs in our cells that organize cellular matter. They are distinct molecular communities made of DNA, RNA and proteins that "condense" molecules to key locations, yet they frequently defy description.

17 Mar 2025

New Discovery in RNA Splicing Could Transform Treatment of Aggressive Cancers

Alternative RNA splicing is like a movie editor cutting and rearranging scenes from the same footage to create different versions of a film.

17 Mar 2025

Ultrasensitive Pathogen Detection Without Nucleic Acid Amplification

Rashid Bashir, a Bioengineering Professor and Dean of the Grainger College of Engineering oversaw a group of researchers in a project that produced new technology that provides quick, extremely sensitive detection of bacteria and other pathogens at low concentrations that are resistant to multiple drugs.

17 Mar 2025

New Tool for Microscopic Temperature Mapping

At the cellular level, temperature is a crucial factor that affects innumerable biological processes. It is still difficult to measure temperatures inside living cells precisely, though.

17 Mar 2025

Study Reveals How Syngap1 Gene Affects Touch-Based Perception in Mice

You may scarcely notice it, but much of what you do every day requires your brain to engage in perceptual learning.

14 Mar 2025

Researchers Develop New Method for Assembling DNA Nanostructures

University at Albany researchers at the RNA Institute are pioneering new methods for designing and assembling DNA nanostructures, enhancing their potential for real-world applications in medicine, materials science and data storage.

13 Mar 2025

Study Reveals How DNA Reorganization Helps Cells Survive UV Damage

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is a well-known cause of DNA damage, which can lead to diseases like skin cancer.

13 Mar 2025

Molecular Intelligence Simplifies Cryo-EM Data Analysis with AI

Scientists from Purdue University’s College of Science and the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing have established Molecular Intelligence, a software company dedicated to assisting researchers in determining the 3D structures of biomolecules captured through cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

13 Mar 2025

Study Explores the Physiological Role of Nwd1 Gene in MASH Pathogenesis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a liver disease that progresses without symptoms and is associated with significant global public health concerns.

12 Mar 2025

Unveiling the Shapeshifting Mechanisms of Metamorphic Proteins

The “shapeshifters” of bacterial, animal, and human cells are metamorphic proteins. Their capacity to rapidly transition between two distinct shapes allows them to perform a variety of tasks and adjust to shifting conditions.

11 Mar 2025

Cryo-EM Reveals 3D Structure of Nipah Virus RNA Polymerase

The replication of the Nipah virus's genetic material in infected cells has been demonstrated for the first time by researchers from the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG). In humans, the virus can cause fatal encephalitis.

11 Mar 2025

Circular RNA's Transformative Role in Tumor Biology and Treatment

A new review article highlights the transformative role of circular RNA (circRNA) in cancer, revealing its potential as both a key player in tumor biology and a promising avenue for future therapies.

10 Mar 2025